Alyssa Bernstein - Ohio University, Athens, OH

Professor: Alyssa Bernstein

Department: Philosophy

College: Ohio University, Athens, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL2400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Bernstein is a very intelligent person but often talks herself in circles trying to explain philosophy. She focuses on the same concepts for weeks at a time while adding very little content in the process. If you are not a philosophy major do not take her class you will hate every second of it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL2400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Bernstein is the "the absent minded professor". She is extremely unorganised and can take 15 minutes to answer a basic question. Does not believe in technology, so no pwrpt or BB. She reads from hand written notes. Does not give grades until after the final. Quiz's are poorly worded and confusing. Grading system unclear. She is not approachable!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL2400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very smart but not the best public speaker.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL2554
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is clearly a very intellegent woman with a huge knowledge of all things philosophy, but she is completely scatter brained and talks herself in circles. Her grading system is questionable and she demands you speak up in class, but when you do she doesn't hesitate to make you feel like an idiot. Be prepared and be on your toes in her class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Bernstein is my favorite professor. For one, she is an absolutely brilliant intellectual. Her insight is impeccable. Secondly, she is so kind. She made everyone in the class feel as if their opinion mattered. If you ever have an opportunity to take a class with Dr. Bernstein you really should. Otherwise, you are totally missing out. Promise.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is one of the most intellectual profs I've had at OU; very intelligent, clearly spoken and engaging to listen to. I actually took 335 with her first and loved it, so I took 240 and 440 with her as well. She conducts a demanding class, but if you apply yourself it will definitely pay off. My world perspective was changed for the better.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Worst professor i've had. Would often not show up to class and not cancel until 20 minutes in. sometimes expected us to have class without her. All the classes were the same, on the same subject matter. Gave annoying, badly worded quizzes that were supposed to make sure if you did the reading, but were pure luck. Sometimes rude & disrespectful.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She gets a bad rep on here but she is great. If you are lazy, don't read and don't pay thoughtful attention in class, then yes, you probably wouldn't like her. She is tough but fair, consistent and the material is challenging but she keeps you engaged. She is also willing to help outside of class, with everything from her class to any other!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The previous comment is spot-on. The quizzes were just absolutely ridiculous and made doing the reading pointless (I would recommend it though, it's interesting). Instead of writing up a decent final, she drew from previous essay topics, meant for a five page essay, that you have to write four mini essays in a 2 hour period: no book no notes.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

It didn't matter whether or not you did work in this class. The only thing you were tested on in a challenging way were small quizzes with poorly worded questions (commonly having double negatives) that meant it didn't matter if you understood the readings. She doesn't seem to grasp basic teaching or power points. She's rude and mean. Avoid her.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is great

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bernstein is tough. Go into the class expecting to work, do all of the reading, and write thoughtful papers. She's fair and consistent, so you get rewarded for showing up to class or going the extra mile.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

she sometimes will bully the students if they don't agree with her. also, she cancels alot of classes which is rough b/c there's a ton of stuff to go over. Also she'll push back the deadlines of pretty much every single assignment that is due, so be prepared at the end to have a bunch of stuff due within days of eachother.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Must read the text. Extremely helpful comments on returned papers. Frustrating at times, as towards the end of the quarter my grade seemed to "cap" with no hope of getting higher than a B+ regardless of the amount of effort I put in. Very thoughtful, overall a great professor - if you're willing to work a little bit.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She made my fall quarter a nightmare. Her tests are near impossible regardless of how much you study and follow along in the text. She knows what she is talking about, but thinks that everyone else does too. She is unorganized and a bad professor all around. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I think people are generally upset when I professor requires students to actually read the text book. A lot of comments about this professor are mean, and wrong. She makes you become a philosopher and use your head. The class can be difficult at times, but as a college student you should take that challenge full stride and prove you are worthy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great Prof!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I had her for 240 spring '08 and have her for 440 winter '10. Here's what you need to know: You will read a lot. The exams are all essays. She welcomes differing viewpoints and class discussion, but she will cut you off if you veer off topic in an effort to keep the conversation focused. She's a great teacher but only if you put the effort in.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I had her for 240 and 440. She is extremely smart and knows what she is talking about. She is also open to different opinions and interpretations. She is one of my favorite professors at Ohio U., and you will have to work hard, but her classes helped me learn a lot about political philosophy!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Her doctorate from Harvard didn't impress me it just matched her dull personality. Her lectures were unorganized, she speaks or should I say rambles too fast to write things down, and rushes through white powerpoints acting like the info will stick in your brain if crammed into 30 seconds. Horrible lecturer, good emailer, poor test giver